Feed-spacer



C. BYRNE.

I FEED SPACER. APPLICATION HLED APR. 8. 1920.

' Patented June 28, 1921.

\ 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

attoznct d vPatented June 28, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ I l liilllli' said positive acting means.

UNITED STATES A 1 38' 2,6 23. I Specification of Applieation filed April8.

T '0 all whom it mag/concern Y Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER BYRNE,acitizen'of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, Allegheny'county, PennsyL vania, have invented a nevv'and useful Improvement inFeed-Spacers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact.description.

,The present invention relates broadly to feeding devices formetalworking machine, and more particularly to a feed spacer adapted foruse in connection with punching machines or presses.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide-means forfeeding the material'being' operated upon a predetermined distance foreach operation of the punch.

"Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying thisamount of feed as may be desired, whereby the distance betweensuccessive holes, or rows of holes, produced by the punch maybe variedto meet requirements.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide meansfor movingthe feed table step by step'in one direction, with-means forcontrollingthe lengthof each of" the step move ments, and means forreturning the same to its original position. I v v i A further object ofthe invention is to provide means for positively moving the feed tablein one direction, and independent means for producing a return movementof The foregoing and other objects, to ether with their attendantadvantages, will be apparent as the invention becomes better understood,by reference to the accompanying specification and drawings forming apart thereof, itbeing premised that changes may be made in the variousdetails and the manner of operation, Within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit I of 'the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view, largely diagrammatic, illustrating myinvention.

"Fig. 2 is a side view of the-mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig.

3 is an enlarged I sectional view through the table'mover. e

, Fig. 4 is'a side elevation, partly in'section, of the mechanism forjdetermining the length of each step movement of the feed table, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the construction PATENT OFFICE. fcnnrsrornnn-nvnnn, or rrrrsnu en, rnlim s l we I I rnnn-srncnn. I

liettersl ten Patented June 28,1921.

1920. Serial No. 372,149.

illustrated in Fig. 4, the top plate being removed. I I F It isdesirable, more particularly nection with machines such as. punches, to.

provide means forfeeding the table which carries the material beingoperated upon, a:

predetermined distance for each operation of the punch. By means of thepresent inventlon a feed spacer or feed table moving device isprovided,.whi ch may be adjusted at.

will to vary the amount of feed for each operat on of the punch.

Referring'more particularly to the draw-- ings there is illustrated,largely diagrammatically, a punching machine comprising a shaft 2adapted to be'driven by a pulleyor the like 4 connected in any desiredmanner.

to a suitable source of power, not shown. The shaft 2 is journaled' inbearings atj5 as is customary in constructions of this nature,

and carries cams 6 for reciprocating the punchesorpunch holders 7. Theframe of the machine which carries the bearings 5 also supports, in anywell known manner, the.

die 8 cooperating with thepun'ches.

The feed table employed; in connection with the present punch isillustratedas com? prising a main frame formed of longitudinallyextendingLbeams 9 connected. by

cross-braces 10 for imparting the necessary,

rigidity thereto. The table may be provided with clamps 11 adapted tocooperate with the sheet of material-12 being operated upon to clamp thesame securely to the table.

In'the preferred embodiment of my invention, each of the I-beams 9 hassuitably formed thereon a rack 14;,'Wl1l0l'1 racks cooperate with aseries of pinions 15 carried by transverse shafts 16, by means of whichthe table issupported in its proper position. One of the'shafts 16 maybeprovided with a pulley 17 and clutch 1.8, by means of which the shaftmay be positively driven to reciprocate the feed table in eitherdesired-direction. f

In addition to the cams or. eccentrics 6, heretofore described, theshaft 2 is also provided With similar eccentrics 19 for reciprocating,during the operation of the punch,

the links 20 which ar connected to the bell which rods areconnected bylinks 25' to the bell cranks. Theserods 24 provide means for positivelymoving the feed table in one direction through mechanism moreparticularl described hereinafter.

ooperating with either one or both ofthe I-beams 9 of the feed table isa table mover. Each. of the, table, movers, in case: more than. one isprovided, may comprise a suitable casting 26 having a flatl'ower"surface 27 adapted tofbe supported on antifriction bearbe obvious.

- ings'28--journaled in-the frame 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Eachof the castings 26 may have Secured thereto, or formed therein,

coaxially, oppositely disposed cylinders 30 adapted to receive the"pistons 31' carried by the gripping members" 32, which members may beformed'with serrated or roughened":

faces 34* to securely grip the opposite sides of th'e- I bcams 9 whenforced into engagement therewith. Movement of the gripping members intoand out of engagement" with the I-beams may be produced by providingpressureinlets 35: for each of the cylinders, these-, pressurei'nletscommunicating with each or thecylind'ers adjacent the oppositeendslandron opposite sides of the pistons 31'. as will bereadily-understood; Each of the castings 26? may also have formed.thereino'penings I 3.6 ofsuflici'ent' size to permit the lower'portionof the I-beams' to easily pass thcrethrough':outvof contact with thecasting,

springs? 38 constituting means for moving the table. moversor. castingsin one direction. Th frame29' may also have formed.

thereon stops 39 effective for limiting the movementoffeach of'the tablemovers. 7

From theforegoing,;it"is believed that the operation ofmy improved feedspacer will punches while the cams 19' will reciprocate the rods 24through the mechanism described. These'rods 24, sliding freely in theframe 29, en'gagethe table movers or cast'-' ings2 6, sothat thes tablemovers are positively. operated in one direction. Assuming theeccentricity. of. the cams 19 to be such that the rods 24 have areciprocation of six inches, the stops 39 will be positioned to preventoverthrow. or overtra'velof each of" the table movers. Prior to thetime'yth'at the castings 26' are engaged by the-rods 24*,,fluid.underpressure may be ad mittcd'th'rongh the outer inlets 35 of each ofthecylinders 30 for forcing the gripping During the operation of thepunch, the cams 6 will reciprocate the.

members into engagement. with. thesides of the. feed; table..I-beams..fDue fio -thisvconstruction, the table will be fed forwardly a distance:corresponding to the movement of each of the table movers. At the end ofthe travel. of thetable movers, fluid pressure may be-introducedinto theopposite end of each of the cylinders 30 for WlthdlfflWlHgji thegripping members out of engagement with the I-be'amsso that thecompression springs 38 may operate to returnthe table movers to theiroriginal positions In order to vary the. length, ofl eacli" feeding,orzstep-by-step movementgofeach ofthe '7 ed'to contact with the end ofthe table mover engaged by the rod 24 when the device is placed inthepositionindicated in. Fig.. 1'. The lower ends of" the stops. may hepro,- vided with transversely extendingopenings 45'adaptedlto receivethe upturned ends l'fii of' the key bars 47, whichfkey bars areipro;vided with operating keys 48"at"their opposite ends- All of thekey, barsmaybe journaled on a key shaft' 49 inthe frame 40', and. may cooperatewith a rest- 50- also carried. said frame. The upward movement of-"thekey bars may be limitedfby providing. a series of stops 5'1abovetheysame. .For the. purposes of illustration, I haveshownt a stopmechanism adapted for usein a feedspacer having a maximum strokeofsixinches; as. before described; This mechanismv may, however, beeasily, modifiedf by increasing. diminishing or changing. the. location;ofv the stops 42lso as to. make thesame adaptablepfor usefwith a feedspacer having, any desired.

stroke. .The presentmechanism comprises:

ninety-six stops/12', so arranged. that the. flatl-f faces 44th'ereofoffsuccessive stopsiare spaced-.2

exactly onesiXteenthofYan inch. By reason. of this arrangement anydesired; return;

movement of the. table. movers fromi'sixg inches to one-sixteenth of an.inchi may; he.

produced. 7 I

' A satisfactory arrangement offthe steps. 42 is illustrated moreparticularlyin; Fig; 5 of the drawings, as comprising twelve rowsA,.each containing eightLst-fops; In. such a construction each of therows-contains stops. capable of controllingthe return movement of' thet'able' witlii'n' one-half"inchptheffirst. 7

stop of .each now being; effective at. 3, fig,

15 inches, etc, respectively, and. the last' stop of "each row beingeffective at g, 1-, 1}

inches, etc., respectiyely. V In order'to equal-.1:

ize the amount of extension of each of the key-bars 47,011.0pp0sitesidesof the.keyj shaft 49 I have connectedgthe first stop of each row tothe outside key 48. of each of therows of keys B, and thel'ast stopofieach row with theinside. key 4850f each of the.

keys. willibe depressed so that the comp'res! sion springs 38 areeffective for returning.

the table movers only.} inch. 'Under, these conditions, the rods 24.f0rthe maximum por tion of their stroke will be out of engage ment with thetable movers, engaging the same only after they havetraveled 5% inches,as will be apparent. In like manner, any desired. amount of travel maybe imparted to the feed'table by operating the properthe first mentionedmeans the feed table in'theop'povided for feedin independently. 0 sitedirection.

7 Additional advantages of the presentin vention' arise from .means forcontrolling the extent of feed by regulatin .':the return movement ofeach of the ta le. movers,

whereby the-entire weight of. the table is not transmitted to the stops.Iclaim:- 4 1. A feed spacer, comprising a metal working machine, meansfor operating the same, a feed table, means for securing the workthereon; feeding meansfor moving the table in one direction, andindependent means for;

producing a return movement of said feedlng means, substantially asdescribed.

2. A feed spacer, comprising a metal working machine, means foroperating the same, a feed table, feeding means for mov1ng the table inone direction, and independent means for producing a return movement ofhe advantagesfof the present invention arise from a construction inwhichmeans is provided for positivelyfe'edingthe table in. one direction andindependent means is pro-v of said feeding means independently of thefeed table,substantially as described. 5

feed. spacer, comprising a feed table, a, table r mover, gripping;vmembers carried by. said 'mover, means. for, positivelyoperatingsaid-mover in onedirection, meansffor; forcingsaid gripping.members into lengagement withthe feed tableduring such: positiveoperationv of the-mover, and inde-v 1 pendent means for producingareturnII10V6.:

ment of the scribed.

I 6. A feed spacer, comprising a feedtable, a table mover, grippingmembers carried by;

,mover, substan a ly. as 1 said mover, means for positively operatingsaid mover in oneidi'rection, means for forcing. said gripping membersinto engagement; with .thefeed, table during such positiveoperation-30fthe mover, and; independent. means for producinga return movement-of.the mover independently. of the. feed table, substantially ;asdescribedf 7. A ifeed-spacen comprising afeed table, a table mover, .a.gripping member carried by saidmover, means for positively recipro-'cating said mover in 7 one direction, means for forcing said grippingmemberinto engajgement ;with the feed stable during such reclprocation'of themover, and independent means vfor producing. aareturn movement ofthe mover, substantially as. described;

8. A feed spacer, comprising a feedjtable, a table. ,mover, a, gripping.member carried by said mover, means for p0sitively recipr0 cating saidmover inv one direction, means for forcing said gripping 7 member into.en-i gagement with. the-diced: tablejduring such reciprocation of themover, and independent means for producing areturn movement of themoverlndependently. of. the feed table, substantially as described. f

' 9. A feed-spacen'comprisinga metal work.- ing machine, means foroperating thesame, afeed table, feeding means for-moving the table in.one direction, means vfor producing a return movement of said feedingmeans, and means for varying the amount of said return movement,substantially as described.

.10. A feed spacer, comprising a punch, means for operating the same, afeed table means for'securing the work thereon, feeding means for movingthe table in one direction for each operation of the punch, andindependent means for producing a return movement of said feeding means,substantially as described.

11. A feed spacer, comprising a punch, means for operating the same, afeed table, feeding means for moving the table in one direction for eachoperatlon of the punch, and independent means for producing a returnmovement of said feedin means independently of the feed table, sustantially as described.

12. A feed spacer, comprising a feed table,

a t eble mpverg g'ni pping membem cwrried by said mover, means t er"esibiwely- 1 mipm eating said mover in one directionmeans for forcing g'ppingmembevs 1m engagem'enm wdth thei feed mbleduring such positivepeci' prbeafiien 0i fibe moverg indie pendent? means for-produuing-mnem'rm mew: I ment 0& the mover, and menns for vwryifl'gi the length, ofthe retunn: sitavo'ke",5 v gunmant-iall yas describede e l I 13. A feed'spmser, eomprisingmieedtableg a table mover, gripping members carnied by' said mover, means for positively 'reeipmcating; said mdvei im onedirection means fer: fioreing'said ping'memberswinto enga'ge menfiwiththe eed *tublevdunin'g such ptisiw hive reciprecation f-themover;independent;- m'eane for producing a return mnvementi of" the: moven,and ln eeneaili juslieble at/ vyfll vary-in *vhe leng th of bhepefiilriaistMkeg stibg st'antia1yas described$ 1 v 14. In a feedspaicenj -a "feed tailfleggaa tmbie mover comprising" gmippin'g members;and fluid 1 pressure; meansfer 'moving 'ssid mam bers intb and out? ofengagemenmwith this feed fiabl'ysubsthntiallyas='desdribedt 1 15.- In wfeed spaner; a 7 feed fi tebieym wbiei maven ripping "members: cantedmover; meme fer-operating saidwmembevs andmeans for operating saidmen-in opposifie directions, subsfianbiazlly as da scribed."

1 1-6;: H feed: spacer;compnisingw tabiege w said mover" and table inone dire'eti en5 1- and-1 independent meen'sa fer'moving saigii 'mnveri11 fihe oppositedi reetion independently! on said table, substantiallyas described:

171 I-n w" 'spac'er; nimble-mover; a 4'0 mechanism" oniiperatin'g'therewith-, e series of independently operableshop's" in said mechanismand means: fox operating said steps at; will; substnnm'allywasdescpili'edu 45 nroven an entiiricvibn s'uppnrt fon said? table mover;meansfov pesitively mnvingi pendbncliy: operable stepsg andlmeans-ifon0P er-Wing" said stops at -wi li,z-supsmntiali;v as

Adeed spacer cgmpnisng mfeed teble wmble mover; gzfipping: membensicarried by saa'xi mover; means fin ponitively'sneciproca't ingsaidimover in one. dimntiong nae'amsxfi'm forcing said? gnipping means;engwgze 65* man with t'he feedfiflable duringz suehllpnsik; tive recipocetieni'offiflhemtwelfgamliepndent meane 13011 producing; ;.a returnimevementflof? themover and means for varying the I'ngirh': of} thenetum 't stroke; snide last I mentioned 7 0 meme: cnmprisi ngs. a; Iseries? efnindependentlyr operable sflbpsendi-meansrfbrioperafiingssaidx stops at kwillgi substantiallyesadeseribedl I 21. In -a2=feedi spar3er; aat'able: movenya istbp; imeulianism: caiiperziti ng therewith, ai: seniess" of ertically movablestops in saidvmeehm n-i smiand" meansi fon mevingisaid: seeps Evertically afi wilie substantiailyx 'imsv' d'eseribedz 22. In:aieaWspncen, a; tab1e m0ven;.'a-: stopv i mechanism ceiipen'atin'g withsaid mover to: limit; the mowemenmthereofl'in" one? "direction; a seriesof independenblyl operable sbeps said mechanism, and means opera-blee'afizwill for mowingmny of *saidtxstmps inte enga i mentiwitli'sa'idnme'ehani'smg@snbsbanfiiaily1 4s;

described: I

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